LETTER TO THE EDITOR: George Town Planning Applications

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Last Saturday (27 August) the George Town Council advertised a Notice of Planning Applications in The Examiner for two major developments - a 6 Lot Subdivision at Low Head, and a large $6m Government Hub that includes a LINC and Child and Family Centre.

The latter has been a contentious issue in the community for well over twelve months, but the Public Notice (2 columns x 10 cms on P.78) lumping these two developments together in tiny compact print with no spacing between the lines, is difficult to read comfortably. There are two tiny coloured council logos, but the only bold print is the 'Notice of Planning' and the General Manager's name - even 'George Town Council' is hardly noticeable at the bottom.

It invites any person to 'make representation ...' within 14 days, but omits to give details of the actual time and date, or who and where to. Most people are unfamiliar with protocols of Planning procedures and may not even understand what a 'representation' is - they need all the necessary information.

This notice varied so noticeably from George Town Council planning applications placed on the previous Wednesday for a private dwelling, and the previous Saturday for a transportable office, that I questioned the planning officer, and was told that Council had agreed on this new format for all their ads.

What is the point of a notice that nobody notices? Right from the start, our wider community has been 'kept in the dark' on details of this large development planned for our historic public recreation reserve, Regent Square - this appears to be a continuation.

I suggest that anyone who has objections to the Hub being built on our square, put them in writing and hand in to the General Manager by 5 pm on Friday, 9 September.

Lorraine Wootton, Low Head

NOTICE OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS

In accordance with Section 57 (3) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, notice is
hereby given that the following applications forissue of planning permits have been received:

• DA 2011 / 77 Woolcott Surveys obo Low Head Developments

• PROPOSAL 6 Lot Subdivision

• LOCATION 257-261 Low Head Road

• Low Head (PID1667624)

• DA 2011 / 78 Department of Education obo The Crown

PROPOSAL Single Storey Civic Building Incorporating LINC, Service Tasmania and Child and Family Centre

• LOCATION 29-67 Macquarie Street George Town (PID 6440533)

These applications, associated plans and documents will be available for inspection at the Council Offices, Anne Street, George Town during office hours for a period of 14 days. Further in accordance with Section 57 (5) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 any person may make representation relating to these applications during the period of 14 days.
Dated at George Town this 27th day of August 2011.

Stephen Brown
GENERAL MANAGER
George Town Council